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Sunday, December 23, 2012

What a Difference a Year Makes!

As we come up to the end of 2012, I thought I'd look back and reflect on what's happened to me over the last 12 months, because, as you'll see, it's been a period that has brought quite a few changes!

Why - only this time last year, I was a writer without a home!

Although I'd put the Guardian concept together over many, many years - I hadn't done anything about it until recently. It was the summer of 2010 before I actually began laying out the framework for what would become the Guardian Series.

Having seen how much material I had, I was initially horrified. It would have taken nine books, (YES 9 BOOKS) to have told their story in the way I originally devised.

﻿

Think about it! I was unknown. Unpublished. And who in their right mind would even consider the risk of accepting a new kid on the block who had a nine book series to offer.
So, in the October of 2010, I adjusted the framework and began writing Guardian Angels - the first book in what would become a new style, 6 part adventure.

(I know...6 is soooo much 'safer' than 9) :) ha ha...

By May of 2011, I'd completed the first draft.

Of course, I was impatient...(The big kid in me with all the dreams of grandeur wanted 'it' all - and wanted it now), so I began approaching some of the major publishing houses and agents out there who were guaranteed to make me famous...Right?

HA! - You can guess what happened.

But thankfully, in amongst the inevitable rejections, there were some wonderful gems of wisdom. In two of the larger, and one of the smaller houses I'd originally approached, the editors were kind enough to see the potential of my offering, and gave me some advice.

I took that advice on board...LISTENED to those who knew better...and made some vital adjustments.

By the October of 2011, I had redrafted Guardian Angels into the format you now see.

So I started applying again...

However, this time, I thought I'd use my head instead of my heart.

While I'd been working my butt off to get the work done, I'd also been doing some homework.

We can't all be Raymond E Feist, or J K Rowling, securing the major houses almost from the word go. So, I began hunting for the smaller publishers who were established, and actively looking for new authors to expand their existing genre base.
From the October of 2011, I approached three. By December, I'd received positive interest from two who were keen to proceed!

I'm very glad to say - I found Angie at Pagan Writers Press.

So - there I was, only a year after I began writing, discussing contracts for the 2012 publishing slots, with a reputable, established publishing house! (Let me hear a 'Woo-hoo!')

Because REMEMBER - I'm only talking about this time last year!

So! What's happened since then?

﻿

Well - quite a lot really.

Although I'm new, I'm glad to say, I listen.

The Guardian Concept is a fantastic idea. One day, I'm sure it's going to be known everywhere. However, I'm keenly aware that - at the moment - my skill level is nowhere near the 'concept' level.

(BUT - one day - it will be :)

So, what could I do to improve my writing ability?
My publishers, Pagan Writers Press suggested I try things outside of my comfort zone - (In my case - Sci-fi). They were toying with an idea of using the KDP select facility on Amazon.

Who wanted to try!

I though...'I'll have a go' - and devised the short story,"Fairy Tail". A Noir - dark, erotic, paranormal thriller.

Guess what? It was accepted! So - although I was waiting for my 1st major Novel to be published, THIS story went out first...AND, it got to number 11 in the Amazon charts for erotic stories!

(I Know! Me - Number 11 in erotica!...I feel very slutty - I'm a naughty boy, please don't tell my mother what I do for a living...ha ha :)

But this had given me an incentive to TRY things outside of the Sci-fi genre. As time passed, I began preparing ahead with new concepts. Idea's I wouldn't ever have normally considered.

The result is something I'll mention later...The Cambion Journals.

In the interim, time was counting down.

My first major release - "Guardian Angels" was drawing ever closer.

The cover concept was adjusted from an idea I had originally devised into something better, and as the time drew near I realized...WOW! This is actually going to happen!

THIS was an actual paperback book you could hold in your hands...Mummy!

The 31st of August 2012, saw the release of my first major novel. Needless to say, I was delighted.

BUT - I wasn't prepared to sit on my laurels and think the hard work was over. I've always been a 'busy bee'. I've always strived to push myself. That wasn't going to stop.

My earlier experiment with Fairy Tail spurred me on to try other things.

For one, my research had highlighted the fact that the 'romance/erotica' genre was one of the most difficult to write. If an author can establish a sound level of competence within this field, it will reflect across the rest of their work. However, I didn't - and still don't - want to become known for romance/erotica.

But - I'm not daft enough to ignore something that can - and has - improved the quality of my writing.

So, I devised a semi bioautographical, romance based story and adopted a psoo - a sudo - another name, to see if I could crack it in the romance world.
Ta-dah! - Under the pen name of Alexander West, I did! My short story, A Fresh Start, was kindly accepted by Secret Craving Publishing, and published at the beginning of October 2012.

Personally, I'm very happy that this development was able to come to fruition, because - boy oh boy - has it paid off elsewhere! (See Cambion Journals) P.S. For those of you who don't know me - its pseudonym - I was kidding!

Another facet I'd continued to develop, was the Paranormal genre.

To my delight, I discovered I really enjoyed delving into that side of writing. So, I had another go at a short story.

This time I devised a semiautobiographical military action/thriller based in the jungles of South America. Of course, I added a Paranormal slant to it, that gave the story extra bite!

It seemed to work...

This story was published through Pagan Writers Press on 15th October 2012, and I was stunned to see it rise to number 21 on the Amazon Charts for Action/Adventure.

Way to go Pagan Writers Press for encouraging me to step outside the comfort zone.

This story really brought a simple truth home to me. When you write, write about what you know. What you're passionate about. It reflects in your writing.

There was I, a Sci-fi fan for all these years, with the Guardian Concept waiting to flourish, dipping into the realms of the paranormal...with erotic undertones hovering at the edges...

What was the result?

Welcome to the world of Augustus Thorne.

Augustus is a part human/part Incubus hybrid, cursed to walk the narrow divide between the demon world and ours.

He is afflicted with a hunger he can barely control, and hates what he is with a vengance.

In fulfilment of a promise to his mother, Augustus has spent the lonleycenturies of his life exploiting the advantages of strength and speed his hybrid nature gives him, and hunting down and destroying any and every demon he can find.

Of course, there is one demon in particular he cant wait to lay his hands on...His accursed father, Fanon.

The Cambion Journals is a sexy, paranormal adventure that follow's the life of Augustus as he uses his experiences and the details contained within family diaries, to discover more about himself, his origins, and the shocking secret world he is forced to delve into.

Now? Not only do I have three stories published through Pagan Writers Press, but my contracts for the second book of the Guardian Series, entitled "Guardians" and for the opening story of the Cambion Journal trilogy, "The Rage of Augustus" are in place for 2013.

The sequels to both books are also on their way for the following year's schedules too.

(Again - courtesy of Pagan Writers Press)

Wow! What a difference a year makes.

Not only has it been a rollercoaster ride, but along the way I've met some great new friends and working colleagues. People, who I'm very glad to have met.

I'm also becoming established within the 'authors world' as my stories get out there and the quality of my work increases.

Thanks to the people I have around me now, I'm sure things will only get better!

Monday, November 12, 2012

November Guest Interview

Hi everyone, I'm very pleased to introduce you to this months Guest.An Award Winner no less!

Jean Joachim

Jean,
tell us a bit about yourself. What don’t we know about you from the official
bio?

I’ve
been writing non-fiction articles and advertising copy for twenty years. My
first published book was non-fiction. I thought I liked advertising and
marketing until I started writing fiction full time. It’s my passion beyond any
other work I’ve ever done. I get out of bed each morning early, anxious to
visit my characters again and tell their stories.

I
understand you won an award recently? Tell us a bit about that.

I’m
deeply honored to have been chosen Author of the Year by the New York City
chapter of Romance Writer’s of America.

Tell us a little about your latest
release.

Love Lost and Found is my
newest book. It is unique because it’s a military romance I wrote with Ben
Tanner, a retired Marine. We wrote it on the Internet while living 800 mile
apart.

What made you
choose that title? And, where did the idea for your story come from?

We chose that
title because our hero and heroine are two people whose hearts have been
broken. They’ve lost love but find it again in each other, accidentally.

What was the most difficult thing/scene
to write in this story?

The scene where
Tara leaves St. Thomas to go on assignment. She’s a journalist and must now
leave the new love of her life, Mick. Mick is going back into combat and they
don’t know when they will see each other again. This was a very emotional scene
for me as I felt their pain and worry about his safety.

Please tell us about any future projects you
are planning.

I am planning
a six book series called Hollywood Hearts. The books will be published every
other month in 2013 by Secret Cravings Publishing.How many books have you written?I’ve
written 12 books so far.

Personal
Round.

Jean, are you a reader?

I’m an avid reader. I read
everything I can get my hands on.

How do you find time to write?

It’s my work and the thing I
love to do most. So it’s easy to block out writing time.

As a child, what did you want to be when
you grew up?

A writer. Boring isn’t it? I
always thought being a writer would be the best thing in the world. And I still
think so.

What advice would you give to writers
just starting out?

Keep writing! Get good
editors and listen to their advice.

Do you ever suffer from writer's block?
If so, what do you do about it?

It that happens, I take a
walk and think about the character’s back-story. Once I’m in touch with them,
the story begins to flow again.

Can you tell us something quirky about
yourself that readers might not know already?

I was a tomboy and could run
and compete with the boys when I was in elementary school.

Is there a genre(s) that you’d like to
write that you haven’t tackled yet?

Yes, regency romance. I will
need help with the research. I do plan to pursue writing that one story as soon
as I fulfill my other commitments.

What
cocktail would you say best describes you and why?

Cosmopolitan
– sweet but packs a punch.

What would you say are your top 10 list
of movies?

While You Were Sleeping,
Serendipity, Valentine’s Day, Holiday, The Holiday, Anything with Fred Astaire
and Ginger Rodgers,Kate and Leopold,
You’ve Got Mail, French Kiss, Pride and Prejudice (5 hour BBC version)Off the top of your head.A dream? A happy ending of any sort.A nightmare? An unhappy ending, death and destruction.Favorite Book? Tie: Pride and Prejudice/Dodsworth (Sinclair Lewis)Favorite Music? Rock and Classical.Favorite Quote? Just Do it.A Fantasy? I keep those for my books! *blushes*Jean, thank you so much for being here with us today, and for telling us a bit more about yourself. Where can we find out more about you?

Jean’s Bio

Jean Joachim is an author, married, a mother of two boys and owner of a rescued pug named Homer. She writes contemporary romance and has twelve contemporary romance books published with one more scheduled to be release within the coming months.Jean has been writing non-fiction for over twenty years and fiction for three. Her review column, "Movie Choices for Kids" has been syndicated on parenting newspapers websites for the past 12 years. A native New Yorker, she still lives in New York City.

Regarding your latest release. What are the links?Love Lost and Found.

Monday, November 5, 2012

New Contracts

Hi everyone. I'm delighted to announce I have just received two new contracts from:

Pagan Writers Press

The first is for "Guardians" book two of the Guardian Series, and the second was for the first book in a brand new Paranormal Adventure series, "The Cambion Journals - The Rage of Augustus."More details will follow in a few days, and will be visible in the side bars on this blog.May I take this opportunity to say a big 'Thank You' to Angie at Pagan Writers Press, who continues to turn my dreams into reality...I look forward to sharing these new stories with you - hopefully during 2013.Take care now!Andrew P Weston :)

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Star Guest Interview - November 2012

Hi everyone, to begin November with a bang, I thought I'd try interviewing someone as mad as myself. Someone, who - I must confess - it was well worth the effort breaking into the asylum for.It was an interesting experience conducting our chat in a padded room - but we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves swinging about!

Yes, I'm proud to introduce you all to none other than...

Tad Williams

﻿

Hi Tad,

Your fans will already know quite a bit
about you and your books.

You’ve had a colorful past: singing in a
band, selling shoes, designing military hardware, hosting a syndicated radio
show, working in theater and radio production and teaching in both grade school
and college, to mention just some of your previous jobs.

As an author, you’ve won acclaim for
your Memory Sorrow & Thorn Series, Shadowmarch Series, and The War of the
Flowers, Caliban’s Hour, Otherland – and a personal favorite of my wife,
Tailchasers Song.

So...tell us something about yourself
that’s a bit different. What don’t we know about you from the official bio?

I'm
a hermit by choice. I have a wonderful family and tons of great friends, but I
am jealous of my solitary time -- my thinking time -- and that's a reason I
tend to stay up late, long after everyone else has gone to bed. I would almost
always stay home than go anywhere, even the swingingest party you can imagine.
(My wife is not so much of a stay-at-home, so I rouse myself to accompany her
out just enough to keep her from going crazy. Well, any crazier than she
already is, considering who she married.)

You have a story that came out recently,
the 1st book in the Bobby Dollar Series, The Dirty Streets of
heaven.What’s it about?

It's
about an Earthbound angel, Bobby Dollar, aka Angel Doloriel. He's a pretty
normal heavenly functionary until he gets involved in something so big that
both sides are upset with him, and that's when the demons and angels really hit
the fans.

What made you choose that title? And,
where did the idea for your story come from?

The
title was actually a replacement for my original, "Angels Rush In",
which my publishers didn't much like. I made "Dirty Streets…" up on
the spot to avoid extra work. That's how I roll.

Please share a particular detail about
the main character.

Bobby
has a lot of me in him, which is one reason I enjoyed writing the books (I've
already finished his second volume of adventures and am about to start number
three.) He has a sense of humor, and since he's the narrator I get to let my
own sense of the absurd loose. When you're talking about how the universe
really works, you have to be able to enjoy absurdity.

This story has a different style to your
other books, it’s harder, grittier. Did you find this style a refreshing
change?

Yeah,
but mainly I enjoyed writing in a more contemporary idiom. My fantasy/science
fiction books often require me to write in a less natural voice -- often the
voice is the major thing that lets you know what kind of story it is. Bobby's
alive (after a fact) and around now, today, and he lives in the same world we
do, he just spends more time behind the scenes.

What plans do you have for Bobby Dollar?

I'd
like to keep writing his books, although once I finish these first three I
suspect they will be more like single volume crime/mystery books with a repeat
protagonist. I want to be able to write one and then write something else
without people having to wait for a necessary sequel.

How many books have you written
altogether now?

Hmmm.
Have to count. Three long four-volume trilogies. (I know, it's become a bad
joke.) Two ordinary standalone novels and two short standalone books, one of
the latter with Nina Kiriki Hoffman. Two young-adult fantasy novels (the
Ordinary Farm books) with my wife, Deborah Beale. And two collections (so far)
of short fiction. And now the first two Bobby Dollar, although the second won't
be published until next year. What's that? Twenty-two? Sounds about right. If I
wrote shorter books I'd have published twice that many.

What advice would you give to an
unpublished writer?

It's
always the same, because I'm no more of an expert than anyone else on selling
in today's weird market of self-publishing, dying brick-and-mortar book
business, etc. I tell people to read widely, and in fact to avoid their genre
when they read as often as possible if they want to write genre fiction.
(Otherwise you become influenced by other writers and ideas in your own genre
and it becomes incestuous and shallow very quickly.) Read broadly, including
lots and lots of non-fiction, especially history and science. (Yes, even if you
write fantasy. ESPECIALLY is you write fantasy.) Another important thing is to
write regularly, even if you don't write a great deal at any one sitting. And
last, FINISH THINGS. You'll change your mind, your ideas, your style, and your
skills during the course of even a single book, so if you go back and start
over each time you will be creating a spiral that never goes anywhere. Finish
the piece, then go back and rewrite. If you have a major idea-change along the
way, make a note and continue as if you had already implemented that change for
the rest of your first draft, then fix it in rewrite. Again, the idea is to
learn how to finish things, not just start them.

Do you have anything new in the works
and can you tell us a bit about it?

I
mentioned the second Bobby Dollar book, called "HAPPY HOUR IN HELL."
I'm editing that now. I also have a bunch of short stories coming out in the
next year, and hope to begin a few new things as well. And my book
"TAILCHASER'S SONG" is being made into an animated film, and the
"OTHERLAND" books are the source of an almost-released MMORPG,
expected out in a few months. There's also some other work of mine under film
option, but no news to share yet.

What do you think makes your book stand
out in today’s market?

Sense
of humor and imagination, I think, which have always been strong points of mine
(I believe.) Also, I don't just invent characters to hold places in a plot, I
try to make them real and then deal with their complexity, no matter how
frustrating to me ordered sense of plot and narrative.

What was the most difficult thing/scene
to write in this story?

In
all the Bobby Dollar books, I think his relationship with the woman in his life
is the most complicated and difficult to create, because it's one of those
loves that marks you for life, and I've had one (and still do.) Fortunately,
mine worked out, but that's nowhere near as likely for Bobby. But I want to
stay true to those feelings, since they shaped who I am today.

Tad, thanks for that info. I'm sure all your fans will be rushing to buy Dirty Streets of Heaven - IF they haven't already got it - and are already looking forward to the sequel... BUT - let's make things a little more personal.

Give me a list od things you would love? (Anything
you like…)

The
only car I ever really craved was an X-type Jaguar, when I was a kid. Still
sorta do.

I'd
love to live in London again, and I'd also like to live in Italy for at least a
year.

I'd
like to live in or travel in Germany long enough to get good at German.

I
like all kinds of music, from classical to show tunes to classic rock to
hip-hop to death metal, and would listen to even more, even louder, except that
I have to make space for thinking, and I just can't do proper book thinking
while listening to Rammstein or the Wu Tang. That's when the classical and
ambient come out.

My
favorite movie is still probably The Tin Drum and I couldn't even tell you why.
I'm also extremely fond of The Wizard of Oz and Das Boot and The Innocents and
My Fair Lady. Oh, and A Fish Called Wanda. If you can see a pattern there, let
me know.

I
grew up in Palo Alto, CA., the college town for Stanford U., and when I was
growing up it was the loveliest, most open-minded place to be a suburban kid
you could imagine.

As a child, what did you want to be when
you grew up?

An
archaeologist, 'til I found how how much work it was.

Is there anything you find particularly
challenging about writing?

Getting
started. That's always the tough part, every single day.

Do you ever suffer from writer's block?
If so, what do you do about it?

I
don't believe in it. Sometimes a story just needs more time, or even a pause.
But some writers worry that their talent will dry up, and every dry spot seems
like the first knell of approaching doom. I'm not that way so it's not a
problem for me. Sometimes I just have to put something aside, but that's only
because it's a complicated problem that my subconscious needs to work on. (And
my conscious mind may need to take it slow, too.)

Who is your favorite author and why?

Impossible
to choose, really. Depends on what I'm reading and what mood I'm in. I will say
that Shakespeare has given me more than just about anyone else, though.

What books have most influenced your
life?

MARTIAN
CHRONICLES; LORD OF THE RINGS; THE ONCE AND FUTURE KING; TITUS GROAN; GRAVITY'S
RAINBOW.

How did you deal with rejection letters?

With
the smug (and highly uninformed) certainty they didn't know what they were
talking about.

What's the weirdest thing you've ever
done in the name of research?

That's
a long story, but it had to do with assuring a secretary in Durban, South
Africa that I wasn't standing in a window of the building across the street
from her naked.

Do you have any must-haves while you are
writing?

Reasonable
quiet and minimal distractions. The occasional nap.

Can you tell us something quirky about
yourself that readers might not know already?

I
have an excellent falsetto. If there is every a huge Motown revival and they're
short of the "ooo-oo-oooh!" guys, I'm so there.

What do you think makes a good story?

Something
that makes the reader want to learn more. Afterward, something that makes the
reader care about the characters.

Was it love at first sight for you when
you met Deborah?

It
was friendship at first sight. We didn't fall in love until we met the next
time. Then it was the Thunderbolt. (Like Michael C. in "The
Godfather".)

What did you notice first about her when
you met?

That
she was gorgeous, smart, and had an excellent sense of humor.

What has been the highlight of the last
month?

Excellent
reviews of the first Bobby Dollar and good health for my family.

Okay
– Thanks for sharing those more personal details. NOW, lets let’s make things fun and bring out the quirky sense of humor your fans love you for:

Let’s have a drink! What cocktail best describes you andwhy?

If
I just want a drink, it's usually a G&T or a margarita. If I want to sip
and think, I might order Campari and soda or a good beer.

We enjoyed our drinks sooo much, one
thing led to another and we ended up at a bar in the city. What kinda bar did
we end up in? (Don’t worry – I won’t mention a thing to Deborah)

Nothing
to hide. I like pubs and neighborhood bars where people talk and laugh. I don't
mind sports on the TV if things are slow, but normally the (or the company one brings
along) should be enough to make it enjoyable.

Our outrageous antics got us arrested.
WHAT were we arrested for?

You
got arrested for doing something stupid. I got arrested for trying to explain
to the police why it was a crucial way to defend against a possible alien
invasion.

At our trial, we pleaded temporary
insanity on the grounds of diminished maturity and it worked! We now find
ourselves in a nicely padded room with a selection of toys to play with. If you
can only choose one, which would you pick? – And why?

A tire hanging from a chain?

A car door, complete with working
electric window?

A toy clown from the horror film “IT”?

A teddy, ready for throwing – complete
with pram?

A squeaky sponge mallet?

A copy of the Karma Sutra? (Why are you
looking at me like that?)

I would take pages out of the Kama Sutra, personalize
them for the guards, each one explaining how fun it would be to do that to
them. Then I'd sign your name.

(Thanks Tad!)

Quickfire
Round

Speedos or mankini?

I'm
a trunks man, if we're talking about swimming. I'm not letting anyone see the
farm until they put a down-payment on it.

Jennifer Aniston or Penelope Cruz?

They're
both lovely women. Penelope would probably be easier to sneak through customs,
because she's smaller.

Chuck Norris or MacGyver?

As
I tell my son, yes, Chuck Norris the internet meme is incredibly cool. Chuck
Norris the washed-up actor is kind of a nasty, right-wing SOB.

Blade or Underworld?

Blade,
baby! I'm a Marvel man, for one thing. Plus Blade's just cooler. Too bad about
Wesley and his tax problems. Dumbass.

Wine or beer?

For
sipping and talking over dinner, wine. For hanging out on a hot day, beer.

Chocolate or Vanilla?

Chocolate.
And no, that was not why I chose Snipes over Beckinsale.

Candlelight or dark?

Depends.
If it's walking through the house at night, I'd prefer some light. We have
pets.

Rolling Stones or Stone Roses?

Like
'em both, but EXILE ON MAIN STREET and LET IT BLEED are as eternal as the
Sistine Chapel Ceiling, and easier to reach.

As
if I'd ever get to drive either one fast enough to matter. It would basically
just be huge insurance bills so you can worry about getting bird-crap on a
three hundred thousand dollar car. No, I survived my Speed Racer days and I'm
content now to drive a minivan. I get my kicks above the waistline, sunshine.

And
Finally...

Someone once came up to me and told me
they felt like being reckless. As a joke, I suggested they run really fast,
straight into a wall – just to see what would happen. Guess what? They did!

What suggestion/advice have you given to
others that you wish you hadn’t?

Come
on over any time.

What place to travel is on your Bucket
List?

Need
to see China and Japan. Would like to spend a few months in Greece and Turkey.
Wouldn't mind getting to the moon someday, if it's available.

What would you REALLY like to say to all
those on Facebook who keep sending game requests? (Go on…Vent it! Vent it!)

After
a while, I got so I didn't even see them. Now you reminded me.

Have you ever been fraped on Facebook –
and did you enjoy the experience?

It
won't happen to me because I log on from home and my kids and wife don't know
how to use my ergonomic keyboard, which among other things has all the function
and command keys switched around. When they try without asking me, they always
come sheepishly up to me and say, "I can't figure out your damned
keyboard." Hee hee.

Have you ever shaved a part of your body
– other than on your head?

Yes.
I have long, bushy elbow hair that must be kept trimmed back or else I knock
silverware and dishes off the table.

Have you ever been stopped by airport
security?

Apparently
there's some kind of crazy bastard with my name, so I get stopped almost every
time. I hope he's enjoying himself, because I'm not enjoying being mistaken for
him.

Are you banned from anywhere?

Other
than several very touchy women's dorms, a few cities, an odd county or two, and
the big F. A. O. Schwarz toy store in Manhattan, no.

What’s the fastest you’ve driven?

In
a vehicle? About 150. Late at night on the 280 freeway out of S. F. when I was
young and stupid. (As opposed to now, when I am middle-aged and stupid, but no
longer interested in driving fast.)

Tad, - that's it my friend. Thank
you so much for taking the time to be with me today. I’m sure everyone will
love this interview and remember it for a long time…I have to dash, evidently I've got a date with a prison guard!

Thanks for being such a great sport..

CHEERS, ANDY!

Remember everyone - you can find out more about Tad Williams on his website:

My latest Blog for Astronaut.com

My Latest Blog For Amazing Stories

The World of The IX Series

About Me

I am a Royal Marine and Police veteran from the UK who now lives on the beautiful Greek island of Kos with my wife, Annette, and our growing family of rescue cats.
As creator of the critically acclaimed IX Series, and Hell Bound & Hell Hounds, (novels forming part of Janet Morris' Heroes in Hell universe), I also have the privilege of being a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, the British Fantasy Society, and the International Association of Media Tie-in Writers.
When not working, I devote some of my spare time to assisting NASA with one of their remote research projects, and supporting charities. I also write educational articles for Astronaut.com and Amazing Stories.
On weekends, you might also find me drinking Earl Grey Tea whilst dressed as Captain Jean Luc Picard.
Make it so...
If you would like to find out more, just follow the links at the top of the page.

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International #1 Bestseller

The IX

The IX, an epic novel spanning past, present, and future:The ultimatum:Fight or die.Roman legionnaires, far from home, lost in the mists of Caledonia; a US cavalry company on a special mission for Presidential candidate Abraham Lincoln; and a Special Forces unit from the 21st century, desperate to prevent nuclear catastrophe:Snatched away from Earth at the moment of death to a failing planet far away, these misfit soldiers must unite against a relentless foe, where the cost of victory may be more than they're willing to pay. How far will they go to stay alive?From Perseid Press.

Exordium of Tears

Book 2 of The IX Series

Exordium of Tears

Fight or die.That simple yet brutal reality is the tenet by which the refugees from Earth – including the fabled lost 9th Legion of Rome; the 5th Company, 2nd Mounted Cavalry Unit; and the Special Forces Anti-Terrorist Team – were forced to live by while the Horde menace existed. Believing that the threat is over, thesurvivors now yearn to settle down, start families, and reclaim the lives stolen from them.But such aspirations might remain beyond their reach, for a shadow looms on the rose-tinted horizon of new beginnings.The release of the re-genesis matrix has done much to foster a restoration of exuberance across Arden. Along with a resurgence in floral and faunal diversity comes the results of splicing the Ardenese and human genomes: transmutation. Ametamorphosis of stunning magnitude that not only affects the living, but those still is stasis as well.Recognizing the emergence of a new hybrid species, the Architect – the arcane AI construct tasked with the preservation of the Ardenese race – responds by unlockingpreviously hidden and inaccessible areas of the city. It also releases an archive of sealed state secrets. Such revelations are eagerly perused, whereupon a shocking discovery is made.Prior to the fall, it was common knowledge amongst the Senatum (the highest levels of Arden’s government) that not all the rabid Horde had joined in the rampage across the stars toward Arden.Realizing that the peril still exists, the newly reformed administration elects to respond in earnest. Existing resources are utilized, suitable candidates are chosen, and a flotilla of ships is sent out to secure, quarantine, and reclaim the outer colonies. A mammoth and hazardous undertaking. And nowhere more so than at the planet from where the outbreak was known to have originated – Exordium – for there, the ancient Horde are not only supremely evolved and highly organized, but are capable of a level of lethal sophistication, the likes of which has never been witnessed before.It is into this kiln of incendiary potential that the cream of Arden’s fighting forces is deployed.Worlds are torn asunder, suns destroyed, and star systems obliterated. Yes, tragedy is forged, in a universe spanning conflict which proves once again that…

Death is onlythe beginning of the adventure.

Prelude to Sorrow

The IX Series

Prelude to Sorrow

The task force dispatched from Arden to eradicate the Horde menace failed, and for those few left alive, the tenet by which they have survived for so long resounds as never before.

Fight or Die!

Now marooned, out of time and out of place, the survivors lick their wounds and struggle to recover while the Horde gather their strength for a final strike that will change the course of history forever. The fate of the galaxy – and more – hangs in the balance.

But fate, it seems, isn’t done with the Ninth, and our heroes find themselves forced to mount a last-ditch attempt to end the threat once and for all.

Will the darkness be vanquished, or will our heroes’ efforts finally signal the beginning of the end of their adventure?

The Glorious Ninth

Fight or Die!

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Welcome to the Fire Asylum. This is truly a safe place for what the world contends is insane behavior. The activities here are specifically designed with the firefighter in mind. Your training here, or treatment, may seem tough and challenging. Remember that it is for your own good. Here are a few words from our director of activities to inspire your stay.

"In our silent crucible, we are tested by fire. In that place where life can and does change forever, peace is given like a gift to the ones who have endured."

Hell Bound

International #1 Bestseller

Hell Bound

In hell, none of the condemned believes they deserve to be there. And that’s fine, so long as they’re not foolish enough to try and do anything about it. For those that do, there’s always Satan’s Reaper–and chief bounty hunter–Daemon Grim.Feared throughout the many layers of the underverse, no one in their right mind dares to cross him.However, when Grim discovers that someone has attempted to evade injustice, and seems hell-bent on gaining access to ancient angelic artifacts proscribed since the time of the original rebellion in heaven, circumstances point to the fact they may be doing just that.The question is...why?Thus begins an investigation that leads Grim throughout the many contradictory and baffling levels of the underworld, where he unearths a conspiracy that is not only eating its way like a cancer through the highest echelons of Hellion society,but one which threatens the very stability of Satan’s rule.

As you can imagine, Grim’s response is bloody, brutal, and despicably wicked.

Pieces of Hate******************It's sink or swim in this swashbuckling adventure where Daemon Grim, Satan's Reaper, is sent on a quest to recover booty of great value to His Infernal Majesty.But what lurks at the center of Skull Island? Is it truly treasure, or will there be fools gold aplenty in a tale that proves once and for all that, when it comes to burying something in your chest, blood money is the only currency the Reaper recognizes.

Hell Hounds

Coming October 31st

Hell Hounds

Feared throughout the many circles of the underworld, Satan’s Reaper – and chief bounty hunter – Daemon Grim, is known as a true force to be reckoned with.

Having eliminated a major player in the uprising eating its way like a cancer through the underbelly of hell, Grim is stunned to discover he cannot afford to rest on his laurels, for the rebellion runs far deeper than was ever imagined. New players have emerged – denizens with uncanny abilities – who seem determined to support Chopin and Tesla’s revolutionary agenda.

Ever keen to test their mettle, the Sibitti – personified weapons of the ancient Babylonian plague god, Erra – also appear eager to capitalize on the growing unrest, and set about maneuvering events in order to place themselves in direct opposition to Grim’s investigation.

And if that was not cause for concern enough, there’s an insane angel on the loose, a creature as hell-bent on creating havoc as he is to return home.

How do Grim and his rabid pack of bounty hunters respond?

Baying for blood – doesn’t even begin to describe it.

The Perseid Press

Black Gate Fantasy

Amazing Stories

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Other Works

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